Felixstowe & Walton United FC

Pre season training gets underway in June ahead of the pre season fixture programme. The full schedule will be released once the final couple of fixtures have been confirmed, with the situation complicated due to the intention to complete the Suffolk Premier Cup during pre-season. The Seasiders are already through to the Quarter Finals, but many First and Second Round ties have yet to be played.

The Isthmian North season will commence on Saturday 14th August, with the FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round taking place a week earlier on 7th August. The Seasiders will not know if they will be competing in the earliest round until the draw is made in July.

It is hoped to keep the majority of last seasons squad in place for 21/22, with perhaps a couple of departures, and the recruitment of replacements to bolster the side. Squad details will be announced after player registrations are completed from 1st June onwards.

It is expected that 2 teams will be promoted into the division, probably Stowmarket and Hashtag, with some lateral movements taking place to keep the division at 20 teams.

 

The newly named U23’s are recruiting for the new season and will compete in the Essex & Suffolk Border League Premier Division once again.

We have requested our home fixtures to be played under the lights on Friday nights, although we have to wait for confirmation of this.

 

The U18’s have been continuing their participation in the Suffolk Midweek U18 Cup and last Tuesdays 3-2 win at Bungay secured a semi-final place. The draw has not been made at the time of writing, but should be played on Tuesday 18th May. If drawn at home, the fixture will be reversed due to our main pitch renovation work.

 

The academy have continued their education during lockdown, and returned to training in recent weeks as well as playing friendly fixtures. Recruitment is underway for the next intake of scholars starting in September. Apply online at wearescl.co.uk/felixstowe-walton

 

The Junior teams have been playing again since stage 1 of the roadmap at the end of March and have managed to complete the majority of their fixtures. Saturday teams finish by the end of May, with cricket taking priority over the summer. Plans are on hold for any Presentation Day or Dutch Exchange until there is more certainty regarding the easing of restrictions, but it remains the intention to go ahead if at all possible, although heavily delayed.

 

Season tickets for 21/22 will go sale in early June, with full details released in the next couple of weeks, plus matchday admission prices.

It is expected that season ticket prices will be frozen, with a slight increase to matchday prices to bring us more in line with other clubs in the league. The Seasiders have had the joint lowest matchday admission charges since entering Step 4, and are one of only a handful of club giving free admission to all Under 16's.

 

The old dugouts have been removed and the resultant gaps in the perimeter fence will be completed before pre-season.

Work is also taking place to create a roof over the turnstile area, linking the 2 grandstands, to provide cover for our volunteers selling draw tickets, programmes, etc.

I’m currently in the process of applying for a grant from the Football Stadia Improvement Fund to replace a 70m section of wooden fencing between the turnstiles and the access gates at the Colneis End, together with new wider gates to aid the juniors moving their goals in and out of the goal store area.

The major development on the horizon is the extension to the clubhouse. Planning permission was granted for this 3 years ago, but a combination of factors including the need to prioritise ground improvements following promotion and then Covid has seen the project stall.

A funding package is currently being put together using FA grants and mini investment bonds to meet the six-figure development costs. If approved, work could start later this year to double the size of the function room, creating classrooms for the Academy during the week, and larger social facilities at other times.

 

The Clubhouse will re-open from Monday 17th May with a programme of opening times released in the next few days. There will be a limited capacity and table service only due to the ongoing restrictions in place, and every visitor will have to sign in on arrival.

We will be hosting a fan zone for the Euro 2020 tournament in June & July and we are hoping to install 3 large TV screens outside thanks to the generosity of a club sponsor. More details in due course.

The Club is generating more revenue to fund its football activities by hiring areas of our facilities to local businesses and several are now based at the ground. Charlotte, the club physio, operates a treatment clinic alongside another colleague in the medical room. Sweets Reunited have a retail unit within the clubhouse and starting next Monday we are pleased to have signed a contract with SC Pilates to hire the Emirates Lounge on non-matchdays.

 

Bingo returns on Friday 28th May with eyes down at 7pm. It will be pre-booking only with tables allocated to meet the restrictions. Contact Stuart or myself to book your place.

The Seasiders Lottery will be closed at the end of June. Entries have been declining for quite a while and we feel it is best to focus on the other draws the club operates instead. The jackpot, currently standing at £1300 has to be won... see the Lottery page on the website to sign up.

Our range of merchandise is still available to purchase by clicking on the 'tickets' link at the top of this site. Alternatively you can purchase in person by popping into Sweets Reunited's store in the clubhouse during opening hours (Mon-Fri 10-4, Sat 9-2, Sun 9-12)

It's looking promising for the Firework Spectacular to go ahead this November. Preparations are underway to organise the event for Sunday 7th November.

 

You will have seen the announcement of the 3-year extension to the main sponsorship from Goldstar Transport and we can announce GMA Warehousing & Transport will continue with their main sponsorship too. Many other sponsors are also signing up and they will all be featured over the coming weeks on the website and via our social media channels... including a new deal to sponsor the players tunnel.

Finally, we have agreed an extension to our existing kit deal and the new home strip will be unveiled at the press launch in pre-season!

 

Told you it was busy!

 

Take care everyone and we hope to welcome you back to our events over the summer, or for the return of football action. 

We are in the fortunate position of coming out of lockdown in a very stable situation thanks to the various grants received, and fundraising activities by so many of you. On the clubs behalf, I'd like to thank each and every one of you that has made this possible.